October 2011

Secret testing on the Olympic hockey pitch: The image they didn't want you to seeHockey will be played with a yellow ball at the London 2012 Olympic Games. A blue pitch with pink runoffs has already been laid for the Games making for a complete colour revision for Olympic hockey.

It does however look like the International Hockey Federation (FIH) will adopt a fairly relaxed approach to equipment and kit colours on the blue pitch. At major tournaments (played with a white ball) white socks, white shoes and white stickheads are all usually banned by the tournament regulations. But, after some testing, the only restriction currently planned for London 2012 is a ban on yellow goalkeeper shirts.

Back from injury: Kookaburra Luke Doerner - Treeby ImagesAustralia's build-up towards the 2012 London Olympics hockey competition continues to gain momentum, with key defender and world class penalty corner specialist Luke Doerner set to return from injury to compete against India and Pakistan at a three nations tournament in Busselton and Bunbury over the next week.

Doerner joins the list of injured star players including Jamie Dwyer, Mark Knowles, Tim Deavin and Des Abbott who have been injured throughout the year but have made successful comebacks in the last month, while defender Joel Carroll will also return from a hamstring injury at the tournament.

A wonderful Round 1.2 tournament in Brasschaat came to an end on Sunday, and it was the host club KHC Dragons that stole the headlines. 

An overtime penalty corner from Loick Luypaert sank former EHL finalists H.C. Rotterdam and sent the home fans wild.  It was not such good news for compatriots Racing Club de Bruxelles, who fell to defeat against Edi Tubau's Club de Campo and therefore missed out on reaching the EHL knock-out stages. Full reports and highlights can be found on the EHL website.